Tibetans go on hunger strike in Kullu

Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), Apr 5: Tibetans-in-exile living in Kullu have begun an indefinite hunger strike on Saturday to protest against alleged Chinese suppression in Tibet.

The Tibetan protest has spread across the Himachal Pradesh from Dharamshala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile. "We have started this hunger strike from today and the strike will continue till atrocities of the Chinese Government is stopped on the Tibetans," said Thokme, a Tibetan Youth Congress representative. The agitation is followed with a signature campaign against policies of the Chinese government that will be handed over to the United Nations.

Many tourists flocking the region are extending their support on the issue by signing the signature campaign form.

"We have also started a signature campaign and we seek support from more and more people for the cause. The support that we garner through the signature campaign, will be send to the UN (United Nations)," said Lovadi, a Tibetan protester.

The Tibetans protests that started on March 10, marking their uprising day spilled out of Tibet and parts of China to other parts of the globe.

China has accused the exiled leader of Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama, of orchestrating a rash of monk-led protests and rioting -- the most serious in the Himalayan region for nearly two decades -- in a bid to wreck the August 8-24 Beijing Olympic Games.

India, which hosts Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and his government-in-exile, has seen a wave of protests since the Chinese crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in Tibet last month.

The continuing protests ahead of the Beijing olympics have been worrying China and it has conveyed to New Delhi its concern over the safety of the Olympics torch during its relay in India particularly after Tibetan protesters stormed the Chinese embassy in the Indian capital last month.